Get the latest agriculture news in today’s AgNet News Hour.
In this episode, Sabrina Halvorson and Lorrie Boyer discuss key agricultural issues anticipated for 2025. The conversation explores rising input costs exacerbated by geopolitical events, ongoing supply chain pressures, and the impact of climate change. They also touch upon shifting consumer preferences towards plant-based proteins, vertical farming, and the impacts of inflation on the agriculture sector. The hosts emphasize the resilience of the agricultural industry in finding solutions to these challenges.
Lorrie talks with Ray Miller, a meteorologist with Meteorology, who discussed the impacts of climate change on weather patterns. He explained that increased CO2 levels lead to more extreme weather conditions, including severe droughts, heavy rainfall, and intense storms. He noted that the central U.S. saw above-average precipitation this year, but parts of the South remain in drought. Miller emphasized the critical need for water management in agriculture due to these extremes. He also highlighted the rise in hurricane intensity and size, and the increase in wildfires in unexpected regions. Despite other factors like urban heat islands and solar cycles, Miller stressed that human-induced CO2 and methane are significant contributors to climate change.
Sabrina interviews Mitch Hunter, Co-Director of the Forever Green Initiative at the University of Minnesota. They discuss the challenges and innovations in growing crops during winter in regions like North Dakota and Minnesota. Key topics include the development of winter-hardy cash cover crops such as winter camelina and domesticated pennycress, which can be harvested for biofuel. Hunter also highlights other exciting agricultural developments, including Kernza, a perennial grain crop. The Forever Green Initiative aims to promote soil health and provide farmers with diverse income streams.
Listen to previous AgNet News Hour episodes…
Sabrina Halvorson
National Correspondent / AgNet Media, Inc.
Sabrina Halvorson is an award-winning journalist, broadcaster, and public speaker who specializes in agriculture. She primarily reports on legislative issues and hosts The AgNet News Hour. She was recently named the 2024 Farm Broadcaster of the Year by the National Association of Farm Broadcasting and serves as a Council Member on the World Agriculture Forum. Sabrina is a native of California’s agriculture-rich Central Valley and now divides her time between California and North Dakota.